The demand for companies to offer various team-building programs is continuously growing among employees. In addition to the basic benefits package, having the opportunity from time to time to eat, drink, and have fun somewhere for free is becoming an essential expectation. Service providers have also noticed this trend, and, alongside basic price increases, some corporate events now have even higher costs than average. Of course, there are limits to this, and we want to offer the best possible programs at the most favorable prices, because the better deals we secure, the more budget remains for future events and organizations. In our “Corporate Team Building on a Budget” series, we explore how to cut costs while still providing a memorable experience.

One of the biggest costs of an event is usually the venue itself. There are various concepts here—some places do not charge a separate rental fee but require a minimum spend, some only charge a rental fee after a certain period, and with some, there are no conditions at all, as long as consumption happens onsite.

For a team-building program, it’s always best if we can, in some way, separate the space for the event, thus providing a safe and private environment for colleagues. Of course, if it’s a smaller team or you want a more budget-friendly offer, this is not always possible.

Tips and tricks for choosing a cost-effective venue:

• Find a place that matches your team’s size! You might find a venue where, if you book all the tables, the space fills up, allowing for privacy without the cost of exclusive service.
• Look outside the city center! If you’re looking for a venue in Budapest, you’ll quickly see that the better the location, the higher the prices. If you assess where colleagues live and what’s convenient for them, a more remote place might be just as suitable.
• Consider venues that are accessible by bus! Renting a private bus is often much more cost-effective than paying for a more centrally located venue.
• Try to find places that do not specialize specifically in corporate events! Restaurants focused on corporate events or weddings are usually in a higher price category. But other venues, which are just as suitable for a program but don’t advertise themselves as such (because their main focus is elsewhere), generally offer better prices. Sports centers, for example, often fall into this category.
• Choose a venue that doesn’t need to be rented! From spring to summer, there are opportunities to organize programs outdoors, in nature. This usually involves more work—since you’ll need to manage food, drinks, and comfort yourself—but you can save a lot. Imagine, for example, a program on Margaret Island, at Kopaszi-gát, or even on top of Hármashatár Hill.
• Take advantage of office spaces! Although everyone prefers to hold team-building events away from the usual work environment, if necessary, feel free to use the free spaces available in your office.
• Search on Google Maps! While Google’s search function is useful and provides a lot of information, many good venues either can’t afford, or don’t consider it important, to advertise online. Although it takes more time, don’t hesitate to look for restaurants and venues on the map. If something catches your eye, you can easily get in touch with them afterwards.
• Ask for recommendations! Every organizer’s constant challenge is finding the “perfect” venue, so someone has surely already been to a place that would be ideal for you now. Ask friends, colleagues, or even service providers. If you request a program for your corporate event from us, we are happy to share our experiences!
• Don’t forget that no venue is perfect! The key is always to know your colleagues’ needs and try to find venue options for your corporate team-building event that accommodate those needs.